Learning on a strictly ‘need-to-know’ basis

I am a learning junkie. I’ll do anything for a knowledge fix: I read shampoo bottles and wonder how they arrived at the ingredients; I spend hours poring over the info cards in museums; I hoard books and I love TV shows that teach me things.

But I recognise that not everyone shares my passion. Many people need a reason to learn. And, as any teacher will tell you, trying to teach something to those who see no good reason why they should learn it is a difficult and thankless task.

Some years ago, I delivered a course I had delivered on many previous occasions – always to rave reviews. This time, chunks of it received a distinctly lukewarm reception. I hadn't changed my delivery style; the course content was the same – so what was the problem? What had changed?

It boiled down to the fact that when I had delivered the course previously the delegates were acutely aware of why it was relevant to them. They knew exactly what they wanted (and needed) to gain from it. On this occasion, although I’d been told that those attending knew that they needed to know (if you follow me), guess what: they didn’t. And while things didn't go badly, they could have gone so much better if everyone had fully understood exactly why they were there. Whenever you find yourself wading through training requests, your first question should always be: “Why do we need this?” Before you can solve any problem, you first need to fully understand it, and it helps to ask:

·??????? What’s the issue?

·??????? How do we know the issue is a problem?

·??????? Is it down to a lack of skill, motivation, or both?

·??????? What does the issue cost us?

·??????? Who has the issue?

·??????? Do they know they have it?

·??????? Etc.etc.etc.

Training courses are costly, so it makes sense to look at alternative solutions. Could the issue be resolved by coaching, mentoring, or using online learning such as The Professional Alternative, perhaps?

Learning solutions that are tailored around the learner and the business need will always deliver better outcomes and a much-improved return on investment. That’s why at The Professional Alternative our offer is always bespoke, never off the peg – perfectly suited to hitherto reluctant learners, as well as knowledge addicts.

Beth Pipe is Head of Learning and Development for The Professional Alternative. Our website has a wide range of content to support professional services firms and has a wide range of content specifically to help managers at all levels.